Adjustable awnings



April 5, 1955 V. JEDLICKA El' AL ADJUSTABLE AWNINGS Filed June 19, 1955`of four or more metal angle bars.

United States Patent() ADJUSTABLE AWNINGS Vladimir Jedlicka and James J.Jedlicka, Chicago, Ill.

Application June 19, 1953, Serial No. 362,880

Claims. (Cl. 20--57.5)

Our invention is directed to novel multiple and adjustable awnings whichinclude an auxiliary pivoted awning adapted to be selectively mounted inthe desired depending position substantially below the outer edgeportion of the main inclined awning.

It is an important object of our invention to provide a multiple awninghaving a main normally inclined awning frame and panels or louversthereon and having track means mounted along and below said main awningand having an auxiliary adjustable sun shield or awning adjustablysuspended below the outer edge portion of the main awning and havingslidable mechanisms whereby said auxiliary dependable awning may beretracted and elevated to normally inoperative positions adjacent to andbelow the main awning.

A further object of our invention is the provision of novel mechanismfor operating a movable auxiliary awning with respect to a main awningand which provides for retracting movement and elevation of suchauxiliary awning into an upper and normally concealed position adjacentthe underside of the main awning.

A further object of our invention is the provision of awning structureshaving an auxiliary awning and means for pivotally connecting suchauxiliary awnings to slidable means operatively connected to the mainawning by means of a pair of tracks, rods or the like whereby selectiveprojection and retraction of said auxiliary awning may be quickly andeasily effected. Other and further objects of our invention will beapparent from the following description and appended claims.

On the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of one of our novel awnings illustratingthe auxiliary awning thereof in depending suspended position and bracingmeans therefor.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional View taken substantially on lines 2-2 ofFig. 2, and illustrating the mounting of a f slidable guiding and trackmeans and fittings thereon and the means for suspending and holding theauxiliary awning in downwardly extending position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged partially cross sectional view, with parts brokenaway of the slidable fittings on a section of the track and illustratinga spring means for releasably holding said ttings in outermost position.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional View of a fragment of one of the four stripsor louvers taken substantially on line 4 4 of Fig. l, and to illustratetheir relatively edgeoverlapping position.

As shown on the drawings:

Referring to Figs. l and 2, numeral designates a fragmentary section ofa window frame and which may vary in a wide range of sizes and shapes.The main or upper awning which is preferably of the ventilated type,comprises a substantially rectangular metal frame formed One ofthe endbars designated as 11 is illustrated in Fig. 2 and has its opposite endssecured by welding or the like to the end portions of the normallylongitudinal right angle bars 12 and 13 which latter longitudinal bars12 and 13 are shown only in cross section in Fig. 2. The longitudinalframe bar 13 adjacent the window frame or building wall is provided withsuitable spaced holes in which are mounted a plurality of lag screws orthe like, one of which is designated as 14 and is illustrated at theright of Fig. 2. Such fasteners secure the awning frame against thewindow frame of the building wall in certain cases, and so that the mainawning will be in slightly downwardly or upwardly inclined position. Themain awning preferably comprises a plurality of adjacent louvers 15 ofchannel shaped cross section which are secured in interlitting relationand with the angularly bent edge flange 15a of one louver extending inoverlapping relation into each of the two adjacent louvers, though thesubstantially adjacent edge anges of said louvers 15 being slightlyspaced apart to permit movement of air between such spaced apart edgeanges of the respective louvers.

The relative positions of four of said channel-shaped louvers isillustrated in Fig. 4. The respective inclined louvers 15 are secured inthe aforesaid overlapping staggered positions by means of a plurality ofsheet metal screws 15b which extend through small apertures formed alongthe opposite ends of said louvers and which thread into suitable spacedapart holes formed in the upper flanges of the outer and innerlongitudinal angle bars 12 and 13 which comprise part of the main awningframe.

As illustrated in Fig. l, the outer ends of the respective louvers 15are bent downwardly along a longitudinal line substantially coincidingwith the outer edge of the outer angle bar 12, and these downwardly bentlouver end portions provide a relatively permanent apron and shield 15cwhich extends a short distance below the outer portion of the framesufficient to normally shield from the View of persons who are notunderneath said awning, the mechanism herein described for retractablymounting the auxiliary sun shieldor awning.

Mounted at the opposite two ends of the main awning are a plurality ofslightly spaced apart depending panels 17 whose upper edge portions areapertured and are secured to the downwardly inclined frame bars 11 by aplurality of sheet metal screws indicated as 18. The length of the endapron panels 17 may vary within a reasonable degree according to desire.

Referring to Fig. 2, each of the two end angle bars 11 (only one thereofbeing shown in Fig. 2) has a pair of downwardly extending aperturedbrackets 20 secured by rivets or the like to the opposite end portionsof such frame bar, though a short distance from the ends thereof. Eachof said brackets 20 has a lower passaged end or head portion 21 in whichare securely mounted the opposite ends of a track or guide bar 22 whichis preferably of round cross section. It will be noted that the trackbar 22 is securely mounted in a position parallel to the end angle bar11 and spaced therefrom a short distance.

Passaged iitting 23 is slidably mounted on each of the track bars 22,the same being slipped thereon before the mounting of said track barwith respect to the brackets 20. Each of the slidable fittings 23 has aprojecting apertured ear 24 which provides means for pivotallyconnecting the auxiliary sun shield, apron or awning.

Numeral 25 designates an elongated preferably rectangular, relativelythin sun shield or auxiliary awning which is preferably of metal, thoughwhich may be formed of other suitable sheet material. The length of saidauxiliary awning 25 is slightly less than the interior longitudinaldistance between the two sets of depending panels 17. The upper end edgeof the auxiliary shield or panel 25 is suitably connected to ahorizontal extending metal rod or pintle 26, for example, by means of apair of relatively thin metal bands or straps 38 which have their upperends doubled back and bent to form hinged knuckles therethrough whichthe pintle or rod 26 extends. The auxiliary awning 25 is securedadjacent its opposite ends to metal anchoring strips or bands 38 bymeans of spaced apart rivets 39, one of which is shown at the left ofFig. 2, and also by means of the rivets which mount the brackets 33 tosaid anchoring straps 38 and to auxiliary panel 25. The opposite ends ofthe rod 26 project beyond the opposite end edges of the auxiliary awning25 and are journalled in the passages of the ears 24 so that theauxiliary awning 25 is: thereby pivotally connected with respect to thetwo slidable littings 23.

Each of the ttings 23 has a second apertured ear or eyelet 27 thereon,the latter being preferably formed integral therewith, and said eyelets27 provide a means for connecting and anchoring one end portion of eachof two flexible cables 28 which may be in the form of a rope, chain orthe like.

As illustrated at the upper right in Fig. 2, a wheeled pulley 29 isanchored to the window frame by means of a suitable metal bracket 30which is secured by screws or the like to the window frame. One of suchpulleys 29 is provided for each of the two cables or ropes 28 whichthread therethrough in the usual manner.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the longitudinal passagethrough the fitting 23 is of a greater dimension than the circumferenceof the track 22. The track 22 is provided at a point a short distancefrom the lower bracket with a recess 31. A leaf spring 32 is mountedwithin the passage of the fitting 23 and said leaf spring is providedwith a projection or abutment 33 which is adapted to seat into therecess 31 when the fitting 23 is moved sufficiently downwardly to causesuch interlitting engagement. The said releasable engagement of theabutment 33 with the recess 31 will hold each of the fittings 23 againstlongitudinal movement on the track rod 22 with respect to normalmovements which might be otherwise brought about by wind pressure or thelike, though it will be understood that manual pressure or pull impartedto the slidable fittings 23 will overcome the aforesaid engagement andpermit the longitudinal movement and elevation of the fittings 23 to theretracted position such as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

Mounted on each of the opposite end portions of the auxiliary panel isan apertured bracket 33 which is secured by rivets or the like to thelower portion of said auxiliary awning panel, one thereof beingillustrated in Fig. 2. As shown at the lower left of Fig. 2, it will benoted that the auxiliary panel 25 is interposed between the base of thebrackets 33 and the respective pivoted metal bands 38 so that the rivetspass through said pivoted bars 38 through said auxiliary panel 25 andthrough the apertures of said brackets 33 to securely connect the sametogether. Each of said brackets has an inwardly extending apertured earto which is connected one apertured end of a brace in connecting rod 34by means of pins or screws 35, there being one of said braces orconnecting rods 34 connected at each end of said auxiliary awning.

As shown at the lower left of Fig. 2, a metal apertured bracket 36 issecured by screws or the like to the window frame 10, and each of saidapertured brackets carries apertured ears to which the inner ends of theconnecting rods 34 is pivoted by means of suitable pins or rivets 37.Accordingly, the connecting rods or braces 34 are pivoted at each oftheir ends as described in the foregoing.

It will be understood that the cables or ropes 28 will normally dependdownwardly to any convenient accessible position and may optionally beoperatively connected to a hand winch if desired. The maximum downwardpull on the two separate cables or ropes 28 will retract the slidablefittings 23, first causing disengagement of lug 33 of the spring 32 fromthe recesses 31 and by such movement, the two said slidable fittings andthe auxiliary panel will be moved to the upper retracted positionillustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and wherein it is substantiallyconcealed from view with respect to persons who are elsewhere thanunderneath the awning itself.

When it is desired that the auxiliary awning or sun shield 25 be loweredto partially or fully depending position, the cables or ropes 28 will bereleased from whatever anchoring means or object to which the same havebeen tied, and the weight of the braces 34 and of a part of theauxiliary shield or awning 25, will cause said auxiliary awning to movetoward the outermost position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 2, andin the extreme outer position, the slidable fitings 23 will have movedto position substantially adjacent the outer brackets 22. It will beunderstood that the auxiliary awning may be partially raised andretracted to any one of a number of intermediate positions wherein theauxiliary awning will only obstruct the desired amount of sunlight.

Our invention provides an economically manufacturable and quicklymountable adjustable awning which may be used either for commercialdisplay windows or for residence windows. i

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and as manyapparently widely different embodiments of our invention within thescope of the claims could be constructed without departing from thespirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained inthe accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative andnot in a limiting sense.

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4 We claim: 1. In combination with a main awning and a frame therefor, apair of guide tracks mounted along and below the opposite ends of saidmain awning frame, a pair of passaged slidable fittings slidably mountedalong said tracks respectively; an apertured ear carried by each of saidslidable fittings; an auxiliary awning formed of a continuous relativelyrigid sheet and pivotally connected at its opposite ends to saidslidable fittings respectively; a pair of brackets mounted on the lowerportions of said auxiliary awning; a pair of brackets normally mountableon a portion of the building frame below the inner edge portion of themain awning; and a pair of connecting brace rods pivoted at theiropposite ends to said brackets on the normally lower edge portion ofsaid auxiliary awning respectively and to the brackets on said wall,said slidable fittings being selectively retractable to move saidauxiliary awning into upper retracted position below said main awning.

2. In combination with a main awning and a frame therefor, a pair oftrack rods mounted along and below the opposite ends of said main awningframe, a pair of passaged fittings slidably mounted along said trackrods, each of said fittings having transverse apertures therein; anauxiliary awning formed of a continuous relatively rigid sheet materialand pivotally connected along one longitudinal edge thereof to saidslidable fittings respectively; a pair of apertured brackets mounted onthe lower portions of said auxiliary awning; a second pair of bracketsnormally mountable on a portion of the building frame below the inneredge portion of the main awning; and a pair of connecting brace rodspivoted at their opposite ends to said brackets on the normally loweredge portion of said auxiliary awning and to the brackets on said wallrespectively, said slidable fittings being selectively retractable tomove said auxiliary awning into upper retracted position below said mainawning.

3. In combination with a normally stationary projecting awning having asupporting frame, a pair of track bars connected to and disposed belowthe end portions of said stationary awning; a pair of passaged slidablemetal fittings slidably mounted on said tracks respectively; dependingapertured ears carried by said fittings; a substantially rigid auxiliarypanel-like awning pivotally connected to said apertured ears and adaptedto pivot into downward and into upwardly extending positions; a pair ofmetal connecting braces pivoted at their outer ends to the normallylower edge portion of said auxiliary awning; bracket means for pivotallyconnecting the opposite and normally inner ends of said braces to awindow frame or the like; and flexible cable means anchored to saidslidable fittings adapted, when pulled inwardly, to move said slidablefittings along said tracks and elevate said auxiliary awning intopositions in close proximity to the main awning and into normallyconcealed position below said main awning.

4. In a two section awning, a main awning frame normally securelymounted at one edge thereof to a building; a plurality of panels mountedon said frame and forming a protecting covering; a plurality of trackbars connected to said frame and extending from points adjacent theinner edge of said frame substantially to the outer edge thereof; metalbrackets connecting said track bars to said main awning frame; passagedmetal fittings suitably mounted on said track bars respectively;apertured extensions carried by said passaged fittings; a plurality ofmetal bands pivoted at one end thereof to said apertured extensions ofsaid fittings respectively; an elongated relatively rigid sheet-likepanels mounted on said bands and extending substantially from one end tothe other of said main awning; said auxiliary awning being therebypivotally mounted with respect to said slidable fittings; a plurality ofapertured brackets on the normally lower edge portion of said auxiliaryawning; brace rods pivotally connected at one end of each thereof tosaid last mentioned apertured brackets; means for pivotally connectingthe opposite ends of said brace rods to a stationary building portion;and cable means connected to said slidable fittings to provide forselectively moving said slidable fittings inwardly to cause upward andinward movement of said auxiliary awning to positions in close proximitywith the under face of said main awning.

5. In combination with a stationary outward project- 111g awning havinga supporting and connecting frame,

a pair of outwardly extending track bars connected substantiallyparallel to the opposite end portions of said main awning frame; aslidable metal litting on each of said track bars, each of said fittingshaving transverse apertures therein; an auxiliary relatively rigid panelhaving one longitudinal edge portion pivotally connected to saidslidable ttings; a pair of brace rods connected at one end of eachthereof to the other longitudinal edge portion of said panel andpivotally connectable at their opposite ends to a building portion;cable means connected to said slidable fittings, and pulleys attachableto References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATIENTS D.88,835 Watkins Dec. 27, 1932 1,939,310 Miller Dec. 12, 1933 2,057,350Schuck Oct. 13, 1936`

